Steve says he shouldn't be surprised by latest managerial changes

Steve Davis has told the club’s official web-site that he was surprised to hear that Crawley Town had dismissed their young manager Richie Barker ahead of this weekend’s clash at Gresty Road. Barker was sacked after his side went seven games without a win and had scored two goals in the process. The Reds were also four games unbeaten and were mid-table in League One but Davis says that is the way football can go sometimes.

The Sussex side have placed Chief Scout Martin Hinshelwood and forward Gary Alexander is temporary charge of the club for the visit to South Cheshire.

Ahead of the game, Steve told crewealex.net: “I was surprised to hear about Richie but then I shouldn’t be surprised by anything that happens in football. I am gutted for any manager losing his job because it is someone I’ve met and got on with.

“I don’t know the reasons behind it and it isn’t up to me to comment too much on what other clubs do. They have their own ideas and agendas on how they want to run things and manage their own expectations.

“It is not always completely footballing reasons and there can be other reasons such as the direction the owners or the board want the club to go in. I’m sure we will find out in due course but all we can do is focus on ourselves and make sure they are ready.

“I thought Richie had done a good job and it is doesn’t make him a bad manager because he has had a bit of a difficult spell of late. It is never nice when a manager loses his job but like I’ve said they have their own agenda and what they do is up to them.”